The Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against TikTok, alleging that the popular social media platform has been in violation of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). According to the DOJ, TikTok has been allowing children under the age of 13 to create accounts without their parents’ permission and collecting extensive data on them. The lawsuit claims that TikTok’s “Kids Mode” feature allowed children to access the platform and collect their personal information without proper consent.
One of the main issues raised in the lawsuit is TikTok’s age-gating techniques, which are alleged to be deficient in multiple ways. The complaint states that TikTok previously allowed users to restart the account creation process even if they had entered a birthday showing they were under 13. Additionally, TikTok used to allow users to log in through Instagram or Google, which would categorize the accounts as “age unknown,” further complicating the age verification process.
If found guilty of violating COPPA, TikTok could face significant civil penalties under the FTC Act. Civil penalties can amount to $51,744 per violation, per day, which could result in substantial fines for the social media platform. The DOJ is seeking to prevent TikTok from violating COPPA in the future and is asking for civil penalties for each violation that has occurred.
The Federal Trade Commission played a key role in the investigation that led to the DOJ’s complaint against TikTok. The FTC had been monitoring TikTok for potential violations under the FTC Act and COPPA, which eventually resulted in the DOJ taking legal action against the social media platform. In June, the FTC announced that it had reason to believe that TikTok was violating or about to violate the law, leading to the filing of the complaint by the DOJ.
TikTok’s Response
In response to the allegations made by the Department of Justice, TikTok spokesperson Alex Haurek stated that the company disagrees with the claims. Haurek mentioned that many of the allegations relate to past events and practices that are either factually inaccurate or have already been addressed by the company. TikTok also emphasized its commitment to protecting children on the platform and stated that they will continue to update and improve their policies to ensure compliance with child privacy laws.
The Department of Justice’s lawsuit against TikTok highlights the importance of protecting children’s privacy online. As social media platforms continue to attract a younger audience, it is crucial for companies to implement robust age verification processes and comply with regulations such as COPPA. The outcome of this legal battle will not only impact TikTok but could also set a precedent for how other tech companies handle user data and privacy concerns in the future.
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